GLOUCESTERSHIRE Girls U13s warmed up for the start of the Malvern Festival on Friday with two T20 friendly victories over Wales at Wycliffe College.
An excellent unbeaten 67 from captain Taylor Hodgson helped the home side reach 162-2 after losing the toss in the first game, Jen Rivers (24) and Bella Herring (23 not) also shining.
And Gloucestershire then put the pressure on with the ball to complete an 80-run win, using ten different bowlers – seven of whom took wickets.
Sophie Murray caught the eye with 2-12 from her two overs, supported by some fine fielding which included a stunning over-the-shoulder catch by Sophie Smith-Graham.
In the second game, Wales were bowled out for just 46 as Megan Ahearne , Prarthana Reddy and Sophie Smith-Graham claimed two wickets apiece before a nine-wicket triumph was wrapped up.
Gloucestershire Girls U15s, meanwhile, were 95-run victors at Chipping Sodbury over Cornwall. Captain Katie Jones (81 not) and Ellie Donaldson (37 not) powered their side to 152-1 before the visitors were set a revised target of 110 from 12 and folded to 14 all out, Aimee Aikenhead finishing off the innings with a hat-trick from her first three balls!
The home side were soon back in action against Somerset and wrapped up a seven-wicket success.
Somerset were bowled out for 80, Sophie Granville-George taking 2-3 from her two, ahead of Katie’s unbeaten 58 off 47, including two sixes, sealing the win.
The U15s (pictured above) continued their fine run of results with an excellent 14-run victory away to Devon at Thorverton to go top of ECB County Group Nine.
Opener Liv Daniels (34) and Prarthana Reddy (33) shone in a battling total of 137-9 ahead of a fine team effort restricting Devon to a reply of 123-8.
Liv Daniels, Issy Huggett, Prarthana, Isabel Richards and Jemima Smith all took wickets while Florence Hampton sent down three overs without conceding a run!
Gloucestershire Girls U18s completed friendly T20 wins at Bedminster over Wales and Somerset.
Katie Jones top scored on 53 in a total of 108-3 against Wales who were restricted to a reply of 85-5.
And this success was followed by a last-over six-wicket victory against Somerset who totalled 111-7 after losing the toss, Zoe Dibble (2-8) the pick of the attack.
Katie continued her fine run of form with yet another unbeaten half century, this time reaching 57, as the win was clinched with five balls to spare.
Gloucestershire Girls U15 Development squad (pictured) battled hard but came up short in T20 friendlies against Wales East at Chipping Sodbury, succumbing by three wickets and then 33 runs.
Evie Patterson was unbeaten on 29 and took 2-16 in game one, while in the second tie Sophie Webster (2-6) was the pick of the attack with Melissa Watson top scoring on 24.